Air gas lift



M. E. WAGNER 1.719.249

AIR GAS LIFT July 2, 1929.

Filed June 29, 1927 INVENTOR.

/ 4A dA A/J Patented M 2, 1929.

1,719,249 PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON E. WAGNER, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

AIR GAS LIFT.

Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil well pumping devices, and particularly to air lift devlces of this character. a The principal object of the invention to provide a kic off valve so located within the well tube that the movement of the column of 'oil in said tube, can be accomplished with greater facility than with similar devlces heretofore.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein when the normal Working pressure of the pump fails to start the flow of the column of oil in the tube, an excess of pressure, which is forced into the well casing, will automatically escape into the tube, at a point a predetermined distance above the bottom of the well, whereby to start the column of oil, after which the pres sure may be reduced to the degree required to keep the oil moving upwardly.

@ther objects and advantages will be ap parent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

lln the drawing: Figure 1 .is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a well casing and tube, showing the location of the kick off valve, the valve being in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse s the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents thewell casing, and 11 the tubing therein, the latter being properly spaced centrally within the former, and being made up of sections jointed by the sleeves 12. In thelower end of the tubing, which is located at the bottom of the oil well, there is mounted the usual foot valve 13. Snugly encirclingthe tubing, at a point approximately two hundred feet 'from the bottom of the well, and. resting on the upper end of the adjacent sleeve 12, is a ring 14, and above said ring is a second ring 15, acup washer of leather, rubber, or other suitable material 16, being disposed on the'lower ring, and receiving the upper ring therein, the outer portion of said Washer wiping against the inner face of the well casing 10, whereby to effect an airtight seal, at this point, between the casingand tubing. A suitable cap 17 is mounted on the upper ends of the casing and tubing, and is provided with a pipe 18, entering the space between said casing and tubing for forcing. air

ectional view on 1927. Serial 1103202374.

thereinto, while the tubing extends above said cap to discharge the oil.

Connecting two adjacent tubing sections, above the rings 14 and 15, is a block 19, in which is formed a lateral recess 20, and the vertical by-passes 28. A casing 21 is formed on the inner face of the block 19, and has a valve seat 22, directly above and communicating with said opening 20. In this casing is mounted a spring pressed valve 23, normally held on said seat. Connected to the lower end of the casing 21, and extending downwardly, within the tubing 11, to a point just above the foot valve 13, is an air tube 24, of comparatively small diameter, said tube having its lower end bent to extend upwardly, as shown at 25, for the purpose of discharging thecompressed air upwardly into the column of oil, within the tubing 11,

whereby to exert a lifting action on said oil.

At different points on the tube 24 are the upturned jets 26, for discharging air into the column of oil,- to further assist in the lifting action thereon. The spring is ad justed by the nut 27.

In a well of approximately twelve hundred feet in depth, the casing and tubing are approximately'the same length, and in mounting the kick off valve, such valve is mounted at approximately two hundred feet from the bottom of the well. ,Assuming the normal working pressure necessary to lift the oil, to be two hundred pounds, the spring of the valve would be adjusted to withstand a pressure of approximately two hundred and fifty pounds. In starting the column of oil, the two hundred pounds pressure may not be sufficient to elevate the oil, from the bottom, therefore the pressure is increased until two hundred and fifty pounds is attained, when'the valve will be unseated and the air pressure discharged into the column of oil above the valve casingfand as the oil continiies to flow, the pressure necessary at the bottom of the well will be less than two hundred and fifty pounds, thus permitting the operator to reduce the pressure to two hundred pounds, or the normal working pressure. It will be readily under stood that the portion of the oil column above the valve will be two hundred feet less than the entire column, thereby rendering the lifting action easier than at the bottom of the well.

It will be particularly noted that the rings 14' and 15, and'the washer 16 serve to seal the valve and its air tube 24, effectively pre vents escape of gas into the space between the casing and tubing, with the result that proper flow of the oil is effected. Furthermore, the fact that a seal is provided between the casing and tubing, and the only outlet, for the excess of pressure of air is through the kick-off valve, it will readily be seen that there will be no back pressure of air on the oil formations below the surface of I the ground.

What is claimed is:

1. An air lift liquid pump including a casing, a tubing within the casing, a coupling block in said tubing having vertical by-passes and a laterally directed recess, an air tube connected to the block and communicating with\ said recess, a valved exhaust establishing communication between the recess and the portion of the tubing above the block, said air tube having upturned outlet jets at intervals in one side 1 and having its lower end turned upwardly,

and a means closing direct communication between the portions of the casing above and below the block. a

'2. An air lift liquid pump including a casing, a block within the casing, tubing sections connected to the upper and lower ends of the block, said block having by-passes establishing communication between the upper and lower tubing sections, said block having a lateral recess, with an opening in the bottom thereof leading into the lower tubing section and an opening in its upper portion leading into the upper tubing section, means below the block for preventing direct communication between the portions of the casing above and below the block, an air tube connected in said lower recess opening and extending downwardly in said tubing, said air tube having a plurality of lateral upturned air jets and having its lower end upturned, and an exhaust valve in the upper recess opening.

3. An air lift pump including a casing, a tubing in the casing, a by-pass member in the tubing separating the latter into upper and lower portions and establishing direct communication therebctn'cen said member preventing direct communication between the upper and lower portions of the casing, means for conveying air under pressure from the upper portion of the casing to the lower portion of the tubing, and means for discharging excess of air pressure from the upper portion of the casing into the upper portion of the tubing.

4. An air lift pump including a casing, a tubing within the casing, a coupling member in the tubing preventing direct communication between the upper and lower portions of the casing and having by-passes permit-ting communication between the upper and lower portions of the tubing, the upper portion of the casing being adapted to receive air under pressure, means carried by the coupling member and extending into the lower portion of the tubing for delivering air to said lower portion of the tubing, and relief means in the coupling member for permitting excess of air pressure above the said member to escape into that portion of the tubing above said member.

5. An air lift pump including a casing, a tubing within the casing, a coupling member in the tubing dividing the tubing into upper and lower inter-communicable portions and dividing the easing into upper and lower nonintercommunicable portions, means in the coupling member for constantly permitting air under pressure to pass from the upper casing portion to the lower tubing portion, and means in the coupling member for permitting excess air pressure to pass from the upper casing portion to the upper tubing portion.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

MYRON E. WAGNER. 

